Restaurants defy Gov. Wolf's pandemic restrictions, offer indoor dining

[DeminPennswoods]

5. These are mostly small, local businesses trying to survive

I've dined out during the epidemic. The PA DoH/CDC rules are being followed.

The real issue is the inconsistency of closings. All other businesses can have up to 50% of the max occupancy as determined by the fire marshall. That means 100s in places like Walmart, Home Depot, etc, and you can spend just as much time there shopping or browsing as you would eating in a small dining establishment that has a max occupancy of many fewer.

These business owners are right, there's no financial help there for them. Just a few weeks ago, the GOP-controlled state legislature grabbed 1.3B of unspent CARE Act funds and applied it to close a gap in the state budget rather than distribute it to people and businesses who need it. So far, no additional help from Congress either. I can't blame any of them for deciding to do what they feel they need to do to survive.

Further, there was another recent story in the Post-Gazette about how more people are stealing food, basic staples, not exotic or expensive items.